HBF overseas visitor cover review

HBF offers three main types of cover for visitors who are in Australia for work or leisure purposes. Its most comprehensive policy can meet some of the costs of accommodation in a private room and pharmacy expenses.

Pros

  • With three core plans to choose from, you're likely to find something that fits your need: whether that's the minimum to meet your visa requirements, or some added health cover.
  • HBF had a lower rate of policy complaints (3.7%), compared to its overall market share (of 7.7%) in Australia. The Commonwealth Ombudsman figures were for 2023 and are the most recently available figures.

HBF visa policies currently on offer

Product
Meets condition 8501
Hospital cover
Dental
Pregnancy cover
GP visits
Medical repatriation
Price
HBF OVHC logo
From $164.90 per month
HBF OVHC logo
From $81.95 per month
HBF OVHC logo
From $197.15 per month
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HBF OVHC: Our verdict

HBF is good if:

  • You need to meet condition 8501 of your visa.
  • You want to avoid ambulance fees which aren't generally free in Australia.
  • You aren't covered by a RHCA.

HBF is not great if:

  • You aren't interested in some extras services like dental.
  • You're a student – you'll need OSHC.

Review by our insurance and innovations editor Gary Ross Hunter

What types of health insurance does HBF OVHC offer?

Hospital icon

Hospital Coverage

HBF offers these plans:

  • Standard Overseas Visitors cover. Policies start at $38.05* per week and cover you for benefits including urgent ambulance, doctors fees in hospital for included services and public hospital emergency department fees.
  • Working Visa Hospital cover. Policies start at $18.90* per week and provide you with a range of cover for benefits including joint replacements, heart treatments and IVF.
  • Working Visa Hospital and Medical cover. Policies start at $45.50* per week and provide top-level cover with protection for the costs from accommodation in a private room and out-of-hospital pharmacy.

*Price is based on a single, in WA paying by direct-debit with 0% Australian Government Rebate on private health insurance and 0% Lifetime Health Cover loading price gathered 9/09/2024.

Extras icon

Extras coverage

You're also able to add extra cover to these hospital policies, which protect you from the costs from treatments like physiotherapy and massage. These include:

  • Flex 50s. This pays 50% towards benefits including general dental, major dental, optical, physio, chiro and more.
  • Complete 60s. This pays 60% towards most out-of-hospital services including general dental, major dental, optical, physio, acupuncture, healthy living programs and more.

Ambulance icon

Ambulance coverage

HBF OVHC policies can cover emergency ambulance transportation. This service isn't generally covered by Medicare in Australia.

HBF health insurance complaints

We looked at the 2023 Ombudsman health insurance complaints. Here's how HBF stacked up:

  • HBF wasn't first place – it was behind other insurers including Mildura Health Fund and Queensland Country Health.

HBF OVHC frequently asked questions

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Journalist

Gary Ross Hunter has over 6 years of expertise writing about insurance, including life, health, home, and car insurance. Having reviewed hundreds of product disclosure statements and published over 800 articles, he loves simplifying complex insurance topics for everyday readers. Gary has contributed to major outlets like Yahoo Finance, The Sydney Morning Herald, and news.com.au, and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English Literature from the University of Glasgow, along with a Tier 2 General Advice certification, ensuring his work adheres to ASIC’s RG146 standards. See full bio

Gary Ross's expertise
Gary Ross has written 620 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Health, home, life, car, pet and travel insurance
  • Managing the cost of living

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